Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Near misses and presenteeism among paramedics
T Ishimaru1,2, T Kubo3, K Honno4
1Department of Health Management, Nishinihon Occupational Health Service Center, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Background:
Paramedics need to be in good physical health to be able to respond to emergencies. We hypothesized that near misses by paramedics and unanticipated incidents that cause no harm may be associated with presenteeism during emergency rescues.
Aims:
To examine the association between presenteeism and near misses among paramedics.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 254 paramedics using a self-administered questionnaire. Presenteeism was measured using the work functioning impairment scale (WFun).
Results:
Twelve per cent of respondents experienced high work function impairment indicating presenteeism. The rate of near-miss experiences steadily increased with increasing work function impairment among paramedics (WFun score category: middle, odds ratio (OR) 3.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-8.11; high, OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.37-13.84; very high, OR 8.62, 95% CI 2.09-35.48).
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated a positive relationship between impaired work function indicating presenteeism and near misses among paramedics. This suggests that presenteeism may be associated with errors that have the potential to cause serious accidents. Improved access to treatment for frequent health problems may reduce the number of incidents among paramedics.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Correlation and Causation
Correlation versus Causation
If the dependent variable increases or decreases when the independent variable increases, there is a positive or negative...
01:22Photosystem II
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment...
01:27Photosystem I
Both these photosystems work in concert. An excited electron from PSII is relayed to PSI via an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, which is comprised of the carrier molecule plastoquinone, the dual-protein cytochrome complex, and plastocyanin. As electrons move between PSII and PSI, they lose energy and must be re-energized...
01:54Base Excision Repair
The first step of...
02:36Transfer RNA Synthesis
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...